Latest news with #environmentallaw
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Ecuador approves controversial law on protected areas, sparking legal threats
BOGOTA, Colombia — Ecuador's parliament has approved a new law on protected areas that has drawn sharp criticism from Indigenous groups, legal experts and environmental advocates who say it threatens Indigenous land rights and violates both national and international protections. The law, which passed on Wednesday in the 151-seat National Assembly with 80-23 votes in favor , with remaining lawmakers absent during the vote, allows private entities, including foreign companies, to participate in managing conservation zones. Government officials have defended the measure, arguing that it will strengthen oversight of protected lands, help improve park security, promote ecotourism and combat illegal mining without allowing extractive activity. Critics say it could lead to displacement, increased resource extraction and the rollback of hard-won environmental and Indigenous protections enshrined in Ecuador's 2008 Constitution. 'This is constitutional vandalism,' said Oscar Soria, co-CEO of the international policy group The Common Initiative. 'Ecuador has shattered its international credibility and invited isolation from the global community.' Opponents also say the law violates at least 15 international agreements — including the ILO Convention 169, the Escazú Agreement, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — and that the lawmakers failed to consult with affected communities as required by law. 'The legislators of Ecuador reopened a historic wound,' said Justino Piaguaje, leader of the Siekopai peoples and head of the NASIEPAI Indigenous organization. Piaguaje slammed the law as 'dangerous and unconstitutional' and said it not only reinforces systemic violations of Indigenous rights but 'actively perpetuates a legacy of dispossession and violence that stretches back to the colonial era.' 'It threatens our survival and desecrates the dignity of the Ecuadorian people,' he said. Valentina Centeno, president of the parliament's Economic Development Commission, insisted the law does not open the door to extractive industries — and that here is a provision 'that explicitly prohibits' them. She asked for an applause in the National Assembly after the law was passed. Still, Indigenous leaders say the process lacked transparency and bypassed meaningful dialogue with their communities. Legal challenges are already underway, with Indigenous organizations vowing to take the case to Ecuador's Constitutional Court and international forums. The law was passed under an 'economic urgency' designation linked to a national internal conflict declaration, a move that accelerated debate and limited legislative scrutiny. By Steven Grattan.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Ecuador approves controversial law on protected areas, sparking legal threats
BOGOTA, Colombia — Ecuador's parliament has approved a new law on protected areas that has drawn sharp criticism from Indigenous groups , legal experts and environmental advocates who say it threatens Indigenous land rights and violates both national and international protections. The law, which passed on Wednesday in the 151-seat National Assembly with 80-23 votes in favor , with remaining lawmakers absent during the vote, allows private entities, including foreign companies, to participate in managing conservation zones.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ecuador approves controversial law on protected areas, sparking legal threats
Ecuador's parliament has approved a new law on protected areas that has drawn sharp criticism from Indigenous groups, legal experts and environmental advocates who say it threatens Indigenous land rights and violates both national and international protections. The law, which passed on Wednesday in the 151-seat National Assembly with 80-23 votes in favor , with remaining lawmakers absent during the vote, allows private entities, including foreign companies, to participate in managing conservation zones. Government officials have defended the measure, arguing that it will strengthen oversight of protected lands, help improve park security, promote ecotourism and combat illegal mining without allowing extractive activity. Critics say it could lead to displacement, increased resource extraction and the rollback of hard-won environmental and Indigenous protections enshrined in Ecuador's 2008 Constitution. 'This is constitutional vandalism,' said Oscar Soria, co-CEO of the international policy group The Common Initiative. ' Ecuador has shattered its international credibility and invited isolation from the global community.' Opponents also say the law violates at least 15 international agreements — including the ILO Convention 169, the Escazú Agreement, and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — and that the lawmakers failed to consult with affected communities as required by law. 'The legislators of Ecuador reopened a historic wound,' said Justino Piaguaje, leader of the Siekopai peoples and head of the NASIEPAI Indigenous organization. Piaguaje slammed the law as 'dangerous and unconstitutional" and said it not only reinforces systemic violations of Indigenous rights but 'actively perpetuates a legacy of dispossession and violence that stretches back to the colonial era.' "It threatens our survival and desecrates the dignity of the Ecuadorian people,' he said. Valentina Centeno, president of the parliament's Economic Development Commission, insisted the law does not open the door to extractive industries — and that here is a provision 'that explicitly prohibits' them. She asked for an applause in the National Assembly after the law was passed. Still, Indigenous leaders say the process lacked transparency and bypassed meaningful dialogue with their communities. Legal challenges are already underway, with Indigenous organizations vowing to take the case to Ecuador's Constitutional Court and international forums. The law was passed under an 'economic urgency' designation linked to a national internal conflict declaration, a move that accelerated debate and limited legislative scrutiny. ___ Follow Steven Grattan on Instagram: @ ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Zawya
Operation Green Shield dismantles criminal networks in Amazon, seizes $64mln in assets
ABU DHABI: In a major milestone for international environmental law enforcement, Operation Green Shield, led by the UAE Ministry of Interior through the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), succeeded in dismantling major criminal networks operating across the Amazon Basin. The operation resulted in the arrest of 94 individuals and the seizure of illicit assets worth over US$64 million. Over a two-week period, the operation – codenamed 'Green Shield' – carried out more than 350 field operations with the participation of over 1,500 officers in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The campaign was coordinated from a central command centre in Bogotá and overseen strategically by the UAE Ministry of Interior. The operation built on the success of 'Operation Green Justice' in 2024, achieving deeper cooperation and real-time intelligence sharing, which enabled participating countries to secure even stronger results this year. Key outcomes included the seizure of over 310 tonnes of illegally extracted raw minerals, 61 tonnes of calcium oxide, and 3,800 cubic metres of illegally harvested timber, in addition to more than 39,000 gallons of smuggled fuel. The operation also struck a significant blow to wildlife trafficking, with the rescue of over 2,100 live animals and the confiscation of 6,350 deceased specimens (including birds, lizards, and mammals). Authorities also seized 530 units of heavy equipment used in criminal activities, including bulldozers, trucks, and crushers. Among the most notable successes, Peruvian police dismantled the 'Los Depredadores del Oriente' gang involved in wildlife trafficking and rescued 1,400 live animals. Meanwhile, authorities in Colombia dismantled three organised crime groups and a cell linked to the Clan del Golfo, one of the country's most powerful criminal syndicates. Lieutenant Colonel Dana Humaid Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau at the UAE Ministry of Interior and Coordinator of the I2LEC Centre, praised the results and reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to leading climate-related law enforcement globally. She stated that Operation Green Shield stands as a landmark achievement in climate-focused international enforcement. She added, 'The scale and speed of the outcomes reflect not only the strength of regional cooperation but also the growing determination of governments to treat environmental crimes as a top security issue. From rescuing thousands of animals to disrupting illicit economies worth tens of millions of dollars, the outcomes of Operation Green Shield send a clear message about the power of coordinated enforcement. I2LEC remains committed to enabling countries to act, share intelligence, and achieve meaningful gains for our environment and future generations.' The operation also demonstrated the critical role of advanced technology, with Esri's ArcGIS Mission tool enabling real-time location tracking and communication between teams in remote areas – strengthening field operations and supporting ongoing investigations and prosecutions. The I2LEC Centre played a pivotal role in the success of the operation by coordinating the entire campaign, harmonising procedures between national forces, collecting and analysing field data, and providing essential technology and equipment to facilitate real-time information sharing and synchronised action. Following the successful campaign, I2LEC and its partners are analysing the collected data to develop long-term strategies to dismantle criminal networks and strengthen environmental governance in the region. Further seizures and arrests are expected as investigations continue in coordination with the operation's participants. Senior officials from partner countries praised the operation. Colonel Jorge Andrés Bernal Granada, Director of the Carabineers and Environmental Protection Directorate of Colombia's National Police, highlighted his country's leadership in environmental law enforcement and said, 'We have made tangible progress in combating illegal mining, fuel theft, and wildlife trafficking. Colombia is proud to be part of this international front to safeguard the integrity of the Amazon's ecosystems.' He added that this effort forms part of a broader strategy that enhances both environmental security and international cooperation against common threats, calling on allied nations, including the UAE, to continue fostering cooperation to protect the Amazon as a natural heritage for humanity. Fausto Patricio Iñiguez Sotomayor, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Ecuador's National Police, stated that Ecuador's first participation in an I2LEC-led initiative marks a pivotal step in combatting environmental crimes. He said, 'Thanks to the UAE's support through I2LEC, we successfully dismantled cross-border criminal groups profiting from environmental destruction.' General Manuel Elias Lozada Morales, Director of the Environment Division of Peru's National Police, expressed pride in participating for the second consecutive year in Operation Green Shield and extended his thanks to the UAE for its steadfast commitment to defending the Amazon rainforest. He affirmed that this international cooperation demonstrates how unity and joint action can effectively protect one of the world's most vital ecosystems and ensure its preservation for future generations. Renato Madsen Arruda, General Coordinator for the Protection of the Amazon, Environment, and Historical and Cultural Heritage at Brazil's Federal Police, said this collaboration reflects Brazil's long-standing commitment to protecting its natural resources. He expressed pride in the country's efforts to disrupt criminal operations, particularly illegal gold mining, in remote areas of the Amazon. Operation Green Shield is the latest in a series of international enforcement campaigns led by I2LEC, a platform launched by the UAE Ministry of Interior in 2023 in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). I2LEC aims to enhance global law enforcement capabilities, promote international cooperation, and support climate objectives by targeting criminal economies that drive environmental degradation. Since its launch, I2LEC has trained over 2,000 officers, facilitated global operations, and served as a catalyst for unifying law enforcement agencies around a shared mission to protect the planet.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wild birds: Daera 'possibly failed' to comply with environmental law
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) may have failed to comply with environmental law, according to a new is in relation to special protection areas for at-risk wild birds, such as puffins, whooper swans and light-bellied Brent investigation from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) had been previously launched in March 2024, following potential failures to implement recommendations given by a conservation body. Daera said it welcomes the OEP's work and will be "considering the investigation findings", whilst recognising "that there is much more to do to protect our natural environment and the habitats that wild birds and other wildlife need to survive and thrive". The OEP has issued Daera with a notice, which they must respond to within two months. A full response will be delivered by the deadline of 5 August Helen Venn, the OEP chief regulatory officer has said that the government has a legal obligation to maintain populations of wild birds and ensure they have enough suitable Venn said "our investigation has found what we believe to be possible failures to comply with environmental law by DAERA relating to the protection of wild birds".She noted the decline in wild birds across Northern Ireland, adding that recent studies have placed "a quarter of birds found on the island of Ireland on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List". The investigation in March 2024 looked into failures to implement recommendations given by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and other conservation public bodies on the classification and adaptation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) A parallel investigation is looking at the same issues relating to England, and information notices have also been issued to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary of State (SoS) and Natural England. What is the OEP? The Office for Environmental Protection, external is a new environmental governance body, which holds the government and other public authorities in England and Northern Ireland to account on their environmental protection and also covers reserved UK-wide advises the government and Northern Ireland Assembly on any changes to environmental has statutory powers to investigate and enforces compliance with environmental law where enforcement can include legal action if unresolved through compliance with recommendations.
